Exhibit: Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now & Forever
Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now & Forever is an immersive exhibition that explores how independence has shaped the Island over 250 years. Through historic objects and storytelling, this exhibit reveals the distinct culture of self-determination and the lasting influence of Revolutionary ideals on Vineyard life.
The Vincent House, the Vineyard’s oldest home, is the stage for this exhibit, which is presented as part of the Commonwealth’s MA250 commemorations, made possible by the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation and the Mass Cultural Council.
*Edgartown Village Market Day
Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now & Forever is an immersive commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence, exploring not only the American Revolution itself, but 250 years of how independence has been defined, redefined, remembered, and celebrated—both nationally and within the community of Martha’s Vineyard.
Presented by the Vineyard Preservation Trust at the Island’s oldest home, the Vincent House Museum, the exhibition is curated by historian Norah Van Riper as part of the Commonwealth’s MA250 commemoration.
With its longstanding independent streak—from Cottage City and Chappaquiddick to periodic conversations about Island secession and the present day—Martha’s Vineyard has long expressed a distinct sense of identity and self-determination. Through historic objects, period furnishings, and interpretive storytelling, the exhibition examines how the Island’s character both parallels and diverges from the nation’s broader story, revealing independence as an evolving ideal shaped by place, people, and lived experience.
This program is funded in part by grants from the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation’s Community Impact Fund and Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.